@article{PAR00001555,
  title = {{P}rey selection by barn owls in relation to small-mammal community and population structure in a {S}ahelian agro-ecosystem},
  author = {{G}ranjon, {L}aurent and {T}raore, {M}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{B}arn owl pellet content was studied on seven occasions over a 2-y period during which terrestrial small-mammal populations were assessed via a capture-mark-recapture ({CMR}) programme in a {S}ahelian agro-ecosystem of the {I}nner {D}elta of {N}iger {R}iver in {M}ali. {R}odents (especially {M}astomys huberti representing 78.5% of the total number of prey) were the major prey of the barn owl on all but one occasion, when bats were dominant. {T}his exception coincided with the period of lowest abundance of {M}. huberti at the study site. {D}istribution of {M}. huberti prey into four age classes was assessed through analysis of tooth wear in remains from the seasonal pellet samples. {C}omparisons with age structure of the {CMR} population indicate that the barn owl tended to prey on smaller-than-average (thus younger) individuals, especially when these are rare in the population (non-reproductive period between {J}une and {O}ctober). {T}he spectrum of prey consumed is compared with data previously reported in {S}ahelian {A}frica, showing for the first time in this region a major shift in prey choice by the barn owl when its preferred prey becomes rare. {A}t the rodent population level, the apparent choice of younger {M}. huberti prey at some periods is interpreted in the light of our knowledge on population dynamics of the species in this habitat.},
  keywords = {bats ; {M}astomys huberti ; {M}ali ; murid rodents ; {N}iger {R}iver delta ; predation ; prey choice},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {T}ropical {E}cology},
  volume = {23},
  numero = {2},
  pages = {199--208},
  ISSN = {0266-4674},
  year = {2007},
  DOI = {10.1017/{S}026646740600383{X}},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/{PAR}00001555},
}